Rule 22 - Visibility of Lights
Overview
Rule 22 defines the visibility requirements for lights described within the COLREGs.
The rule describes the range at which different lights must be visible for different sized vessels.
Rule 22 - Visibility of Lights
The lights prescribed in these Rules shall have an intensity as specified in Section 8 of Annex I to these Regulations so as to be visible at the following minimum ranges:
In vessels of 50 metres or more in length:
- a masthead light, 6 miles;
- a sidelight, 3 miles;
- a stern light, 3 miles;
- a towing light, 3 miles;
- a white, red, green or yellow all-round light, 3 miles.
In vessels of 12 metres or more in length but less than 50 metres in length:
- a masthead light, 5 miles; except that where the length of the vessel is less than 20 metres, 3 miles;
- a sidelight, 2 miles;
- a sternlight, 2 miles;
- a towing light, 2 miles;
- a white, red, green or yellow all-round light, 2 miles.
In vessels of less than 12 metres in length:
- a masthead light, 2 miles;
- a sidelight, 1 mile;
- a sternlight, 2 miles;
- a towing light, 2 miles;
- a white, red, green or yellow all-round light, 2 miles.
In inconspicuous, partly submerged vessels or objects being towed:
- a white all-round light, 3 miles.
About This Work
This video was originally created for the YouTube channel Casual Navigation before later being republished under Refresh Maritime, where it has since been viewed over 50,000 times.
We regularly receive feedback that the COLREGs in Depth series is still used by cadets and nautical colleges around the world.
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